SmartStream

Watching the Olympics on TV was always a frustrating experience for me. Along with the frequent commercial interruptions, I had to sit through hours of weightlifting and shot-putting to see synchronized swimming. (I know, you were sitting through the synchronized swimming to see the shot-put.) But that problem has been solved for the 2012 London Olympics. NBC has created a website and an app for iPhone, iPad, and Android devices that will show live coverage of every sport and match from start to finish.

With the addition of 4K HDR streaming, the new Roku Streaming Stick+ ($70) is powerful enough for your home theater and portable enough to take on the road. A recent trip took me to several cities where I was able to test out the Stick+ on a number of hotel TVs, including a 4K HDR Samsung model (!) in a cottage where I stayed.

Buying a gift for your parents or another technologically challenged person on your list? Here are three media streamers to consider.

At first, ditching cable for an all-streaming solution saved money and offered other benefits. With rising prices, you might have to give in to watching commercials to get a good deal.

Streaming high-quality video with multichannel audio requires a fast connection. For Vudu, Hulu, and other online streaming sites, you must have fast Internet speeds. To stream huge, high-definition files from your media server to your smart TV or media player, you must have a fast connection within your home network.

Roku has released its 2017 line of streaming players. Find out if you need to upgrade to a new Roku.

The team that brought us TiVo, now release a new way to stream online video with the Qplay. Check out how it compares to other streaming devices including the Chromecast and whether it is as revolutionary as the TiVo duo claim.